Which camp story are you most interested in following?

[dead_poet]

With the draft over we now have a clearer picture to the final 53. Though we have a long ways before training camp, I thought it'd be fun to see what everybody will be watching. The way I figure it, a lot of positions are up for grabs and there are no shortage of storylines. You can choose three options.

Offense

LT: Matt Kalil
LG: ??
C: John Sullivan
RG: Brandon Fusco
RT: Phil Loadholt
RB: Adrian Peterson (I hope)
TE: Kyle Rudolph
QB Teddy Bridgewater

Defense

DT: Linval Joseph
DT: Shariff Floyd
RDE: Everson Griffen
LDE: Brian Robison
SLB: Anthony Barr
ILB: ??
WLB: ??
CB: Xavier Rhodes
CB: ??
S: Harrison Smith
S: ??

[dead_poet]

Kendricks will probably start somewhere and I'm sure the coaching staff would like Waynes to be ready week 1, though that may not happen. I didn't add Robinson or Munnerlyn to the list as legit options to start the year at outside corner as I think they're probably going to be on the outside looking in there. I also think Munnerlyn probably has the slot to himself, so I didn't add that option either. I wonder if Sherels sticks on the 53, not only because of special teams but also because he might be the only other guy that can be trusted to play the slot. On offense I think Charles Johnson is the presumed starter outside opposite Wallace, with Wright the de facto starter in the slot.

Our WR depth is deep. I think the depth chart looks like:

1) Mike Wallace
2) Charles Johnson
3) Cordarrelle Patterson
4) Jarius Wright

#5 is up for grabs and will be very competitive between Stefon Diggs and Adam Theilen, though I think the former probably has the advantage. I wonder if keeping 6 WRs is an option. Then again, they have a ton of competition at DB as well. There will be hard cuts coming this year.

[lyzarde]

There are two main things I'll be most interested to see:

- What the OL looks like going into the season.
- Has CP84 improved enough to start again or at least contribute. I think it will be hard to push him into the same starting role that we expected last year if Charles Johnson continues to play well.

[Mothman]

I'll be watching 'em all but the left guard position and Patterson interest me most. I'm not so sure it's "Patterson vs. Charles Johnson" or just "Patterson vs. playing time" but either way, I want to see how CP does this summer.

I picked Peterson as the third option, mainly because I'd be lying if I didn't... :

I should add that I'll also be very curious to see what the Vikings are doing with Patterson in camp and the preseason. i still feel they tried to pound a square peg into a round hole with him last season.

[dead_poet]

I should add that I'll also be very curious to see what the Vikings are doing with Patterson in camp and the preseason. i still feel they tried to pound a square peg into a round hole with him last season.

Here's the conundrum with Patterson for me. Do you continue to manufacture touches for him (I presume that's what you mean)? I think that's even harder to do when he's not a "starter" because it kind of keys the defense in on what's going to happen when he enters the lineup. Not to say there can't be misdirection, nor that they can necessarily stop it even if they know what's coming but still. I think it gives the defense an advantage. On the other hand, they did this a lot with Harvin and it worked quite a bit. See why I think it's a conundrum? I think, ideally, he is a starter on the outside opposite Wallace and can do some creative things with him then in addition to 60-80% "traditional" wide receiver. If you have three WRs on the field, is Patterson in the slot? So many questions.

[Mothman]

Here's the conundrum with Patterson for me. Do you continue to manufacture touches for him (I presume that's what you mean)?

Yes, but that's not what I meant.

I think they cast him as a split end based on his size and I think it's the wrong role for him. I think he has split end size but more of a flanker/slot receiver skill set.

I think that's even harder to do when he's not a "starter" because it kind of keys the defense in on what's going to happen when he enters the lineup. Not to say there can't be misdirection, nor that they can necessarily stop it even if they know what's coming but still. I think it gives the defense an advantage. On the other hand, they did this a lot with Harvin and it worked quite a bit. See why I think it's a conundrum?

Yes, I do. However, I don't think it needs to remain such a conundrum. If Norv gets a little more creative/flexible and Patterson has makes the most of his opportunities on the field, whether the ball comes his way or not, I believe things could work out much better. Patterson needs to be out there enough that it's not obvious the ball will come his way when he's on the field and they need to mix up targets, formations, etc. enough that it never becomes obvious. At this point, they should have the skill position players to keep defenses from keying on Patterson, especially with peterson coming back.

I think, ideally, he is a starter on the outside opposite Wallace and can do some creative things with him then in addition to 60-80% "traditional" wide receiver. If you have three WRs on the field, is Patterson in the slot? So many questions.

I think the 60-80% traditional role makes sense and I definitely think he should spend some time in the slot. I don't know... I have a different take on what happened last year than most. I thought Patterson was a victim of his own flawed play and Norv's stubbornness in about equal measure.

[losperros]

Jim is right. It's Patterson vs playing time. Whatever the case, that's the one I'm most interested in. From everything I've read, including a great article this morning, it sounds as if Patterson has thrown himself heart and soul into the offseason. I'm looking forward to the results.

[dead_poet]

Oh, OK. I changed the option even though I don't think it makes sense.

[Mothman]

Oh, OK. I changed the option even though I don't think it makes sense.

I didn't mean that you should change it.

I wonder if the Vikings see Patterson and Johnson as two players fighting for playing time at the same position. I'd love to get some insight into how they view the roles of their WRs next season.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I know Patterson struggles with route running, but man, why don't we try to make him a slot guy? I know he has the size to play flanker or split end, but out of the slot? Watch out.

We need to get Cordarrelle Patterson the ball. He is too gifted to sit on the bench. I am very much hoping he makes us forget about last year. He is still a very talented player and I will be rooting for him every step of the way.

[The Breeze]

I'll be interested in CP and Diggs. How the LBs look(who is going to win the jobs) and the guard spot.

[mondry]

The problem is Patterson's just not very good (yet) so who do you give him playing time over? No way over Wallace and charles Johnson was SIGNIFICANTLY better than Patterson outside last year. Okay so the slot? Jarius Wright had a strong year and looks primed to be our main slot receiver now that Jennings is gone and they don't have to split slot time anymore. I can't even justify giving him playing time over Wright at this point. Then we have Diggs who is lightning in a bottle and looks like another great option in the slot backing up Wright.

I just don't see any of the WR positions weak enough where we can put Patterson there and say "oh now we're better." I don't think he gets much playing time this year unless someone gets hurt or we purposely make our team weaker by putting him out there to gain experience.

LG will be interesting, just because the position really is just so wide open and there's no real clear cut candidate to win it.

Other than that, can't say I'm overly interested in a specific story line, I'm just interested in everything!

[MikethePurple]

I initially chose Patterson, Waynes, and the left guard situation but after some thought I had to switch out Waynes for Kalil. I think there are a number of compelling story lines to watch coming out of camp but I think these could be some of the most important (although the linebacker situation was right there). I think the Waynes situation is going to be more of a long term storyline to watch rather than straight out of training camp. I have high hopes for him however I think his development will be a bit longer than the first training camp. If he is able to show a great amount of ability and lock up the spot that will be the best surprise coming out of camp.

If Patterson is able to turn the corner along with Norv being more flexible in his usage he could be a huge game changer on offense. Patterson showed a great amount of ability his final games of his rookie season (which added to the hype over the last offseason) so if he is able to figure things out he could be an explosive offensive weapon.

Kalil really is in a "prove it" year due to the last two season and for his contract. If he isn't able to get things together this year I think that the Vikes are going to have to look elsewhere for a LT. This position is so important and the line was such a mess last year that he really needs to get it together. The fact that he is returning makes performance in camp and the preseason important for Kalil where if he is looking bad in camp/preseason that will not bode well for the season. I remember after the Buffalo game a couple years ago in the preseason where he shrugged off a bad performance as preseason but that really was an indicator of what he has done for the past couple years.

Finally, the left guard situation is just a huge question mark. I think Berger could fill in if necessary but if he wins the job that does not bode well for depth. If injuries occur at the rate they did last year, this line could be in some serious trouble. I really hope Yankey is making strides and some of the offensive line help drafted in the later rounds look promising. But once again as mentioned above, the line was very bad last year and if it doesn't improve it could really hamper Bridgewater's development and make things go south quickly.

One large question mark I have for the preaseason but also this whole year will be the health of Kyle Rudolph. He hasn't been able to stay consistently healthy since he's been here and if he isn't able to finish this season the Vikes might regret his extension. I wonder what the stipulations are for guarantees in his contract?

[Pseudo Everything]

Patterson.

Make or break year even by his own admission. I'm not all that optimistic about his future as a WR in the NFL. Think Ben Leber was right when he said that CP is probably relegated to the role of a gadget player on offense.

Patterson's biggest problem is his route running. While I think it's great that's he working out with a personal trainer in the offseason I don't see how that will help that much in terms of his development as a WR. It's unfortunate the CBA doesn't allow a team to have coaches working with players in the off-season. His development would be helped infinitely more if he was working with George Stewart this off-season instead of a personal trainer.

Too bad he couldn't qualify academically to play at a Div I program coming out of HS. Those two years at Hutchinson CC were not wasted years ... but they certainly stunted his development. And one year at Tennessee where he ran a limited route tree just isn't enough time to be ready for the NFL. He should have stayed another year at Tennessee but rumor was that he wouldn't have been academically eligible (which ... if true ... is saying something because most SEC programs can keep anyone eligible).

[Mothman]

The problem is Patterson's just not very good (yet) so who do you give him playing time over? No way over Wallace and charles Johnson was SIGNIFICANTLY better than Patterson outside last year. Okay so the slot? Jarius Wright had a strong year and looks primed to be our main slot receiver now that Jennings is gone and they don't have to split slot time anymore. I can't even justify giving him playing time over Wright at this point. Then we have Diggs who is lightning in a bottle and looks like another great option in the slot backing up Wright.

I just don't see any of the WR positions weak enough where we can put Patterson there and say "oh now we're better." I don't think he gets much playing time this year unless someone gets hurt or we purposely make our team weaker by putting him out there to gain experience.

Here's how you justify it:

http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... 532de4b242

http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... f0b83a4093

http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... 86349d84a0

The guy is electric with the ball in his hands and it's Turner's job to make that happen. Patterson can do things no other player on the team can do. For years I read post after post here absolutely shredding the previous coaching staff for not playing Harvin enough, not getting enough out of this or that player, not showing enough creativity, even not playing Patterson enough in the first half of 2013. You name it, they were ripped for it and yet last year, Turner got very little out of Patterson and he's basically been given a pass for it or even a virtual pat on the back from some Vikings fans. Yes, Patterson needs to get better. He definitely had some issues last year. He also got wide open at times and was missed or came through with some key catches in games. The guy brings quite a bit to the table even as a developmental player. The idea that it's hard to even justify giving him some playing time over Johnson, Wright or Wallace doesn't wash with me at all. If you end up being right and he doesn't get much playing time this year despite being healthy, the Vikes should start considering a new offensive coordinator because that would be inexcusable.

Why do I get the feeling that if the Patriots had drafted Patterson instead of the Vikings he might be a human highlight reel by now?